The College Lacrosse Show is coming in an abbreviated form this week, but should be back to normal very soon. There was a ton of action in the lacrosse world last weekend, as evidenced by major movement in the latest media poll. While Notre Dame remains a clear and obvious number one, Maryland has climbed up to grab the number two spot. Cornell looks like the biggest threat to the crown after that. Beyond those three, the jury still is still very much out contenders vs pretenders. The post COVID world is very clearly here, and year one has some bumpy results.
In written format this time, here’s a few thoughts on big games and results from last week.
HARVARD 15, SYRACUSE 14
The Orange started hot in this game, spinning the ball with the dazzling speed we’ve seen at times. Early initiating from Trey Deere led to goals for Owen Hiltz, a Spallina to Thomson tic tac toe goal followed, we blinked, and it was 5-0. This was a key moment. Syracuse had an opportunity to bury the Crimson in the first quarter, and didn’t. Some of that is because Graham Stevens got hot in goal for Harvard. But another reason is because of some mental lapses. The Orange interior defense, usually a strength, was exposed a bit. As Harvard closed the gap, they scored on the doorstep as Syracuse interior defenders found themselves in no man’s land at times. Not guarding their man, but not helping on the interior enough to stop a goal. Harvard also started winning in the sub game, and this persisted through the day. Ray Dearth made a number of nice plays in the sub game that led to scoring opportunities, or just outright goals. Harvard kept manufacturing chances like that, and taking advantage of some Syracuse errors to keep within striking distance.
Another story that stood out, particularly on second watch, was Syracuse not being able to win favorable matchups against shorties. Owen Hiltz was short sticked plenty of times in this game, but couldn’t draw a slide or consistently create off the dodge. Syracuse used the big little game for Spallina about a half dozen times in the game. It resulted in one goal, three times Spallina basically just passed out of it, and one resulted in Stevens save. That little output from a set where Syracuse is usually more productive and dangerous is credit to Harvard being prepared for it.
MARYLAND 13, PRINCETON 9
The game started well for Princeton, as the Tigers answered an early Zach Whittier goal with a three goal run, part of a first quarter that saw eight total goals. That was the game Princeton wanted to play. But for quarters two, three, and four, Maryland said not so fast my friend. Maryland owned the tempo of this game, forcing Princeton to play at the speed of a, well, of a turtle.
The Terps were opportunistic in this one. The box score doesn’t say the goals were garbage goals because they all count the same, but there were some rebounds, some trash around the crease, a rebound basically swatted out of the air into the net by Daniel Kelly. That makes a difference, and that’s where a top five matchup can be decided sometimes.
Watching this game, I ended up having a familiar debate in my head. You want a team to be who they are. Play to their identity. Don’t play a different game than the one you’re built to play. But sometimes, that can bite you. Princeton got out early by attacking with their weapons. It makes sense. Coulter Mackesy and Nate Kabiri are lethal shooters. But as the pace slowed, and Maryland started taking control, there wasn’t any sort of adjustment on the Princeton side. Kabiri took some shots that, in my eyes, were really just turnovers. Forced or early in the possession, they were easy saves for Logan McNaney that became transition. I would never tell Kabiri to stop shooting. Or really anyone on that Princeton offense. It’s who they are. But there’s a delicate chemistry to a well run offense, and the mixture in this game could have used a bit more patience. Kabiri took 14 shots and had two goals. Mackesy took 12 shots. The rest of the shooters who had a point took 17 shots. Some better shot selection can lead to more balance, the old proverb of take the best shot not the first shot. Everyone involved and in the score sheet, that’s closer to what Princeton really is rather than volume shooting.
NORTH CAROLINA 13, JOHNS HOPKINS 12
Statement win for Carolina. There’s obviously the magical story of Coach Pietramala returning to Homewood, and his son catching fire as a shooter. But the story of this game, at least as far as the result goes, is the Hopkins defense.
Last year, Hopkins won this game 13-9. Scott Smith got the matchup with Owen Duffy, and held him goalless on eight shots. Quentin Kilrain took Dom Pietramala, and Petro had two goals on 10 shots. That’s very acceptable, surely they’d just do that again. Nope. We didn’t really get an explanation for why Smith wouldn’t guard a matchup he handily won a year ago, but I’d love to hear one.
Hopkins defense also had issues with closeouts. Pietramala had six goals on 15 shots in this game. Owen Duffy had four on 16 shots. Pietramala represents the obvious issue with the defense though. He scored on a low to high laser on an ultra quick release midway through the first quarter that made it 4-2 Carolina. It was his second goal of the day. But once you saw it, you knew Pietramala was feeling it. And from that moment on, nothing changed defensively. Close outs to him were slow, there was a never a stick on his hands in space, or a check when he received a pass. He was stepping into shots from range without a defender within multiple yards of him. Extending to him means making slides longer, it means opening space in the interior, it’s a challenging concession to make. Hopkins decided not to make it. With that decision, they played with fire and dared Duffy and Petro to beat them as a twosome. And that’s what happened.
Hopkins offense, especially Russell Melendez, did enough to win in my eyes. The UNC defense was tested, and they performed decently well for a group with as little experience as they have. The Jays defense, and their failure to make any sort of adjustment to the two best players on the UNC team, was the story of this game.
FAFO OF THE WEEK
Thanks to all who submitted nominations, and to the handful of people who correctly picked my FAFO winners. To start, a trio of honorable mentions.
Connor Foley, goalie for Brown
Played two games last week, had 18 saves and a goal against BU, had 19 saves and a caused turnover against Providence. Late in that Providence game, he saved a full field shot that gave Bruno the possession it needed to ice the game.
Dom Pietramala, attackman for UNC
Hard to imagine he’s not a winner, because Hopkins sure did find out. But it was a real big weekend for teams F’ing around and finding out. Petro had six goals against Hopkins, testing the range from what looked like a clear and obvious PLL two pointer. The shooting was incredible, but the find out portion of this goes to the Hopkins defense. After Petro has his hat trick and is clearly feeling it, adjustments have to happen. He can’t receive a pass without a stick in gloves, or a close out to him immediately. He just can’t be allowed to handle the ball cleanly again. Does this open up the defense inside? Sure does. But the alternative is what we saw. A series or surgical missile strikes and a home loss for Hopkins.
Drew Bogardus, attackman for Hofstra
Maybe a deep cut here, but if you make it in the record books, you deserve a shout out. Drew had seven goals, a new freshman record at Hofstra, in a win over St John’s.
FAFO Winner number one, Andrew McAdorey from Duke.
Little over three minutes left, Duke is down 7-5 to Michigan. McAdorey gets the ball, goes to X, makes a nice move to get to his right coming from X, no slide or help comes to him so he takes another step or two above GLE and scores. 7-6. McAdorey would score again to make it 7-7 with about two minutes left to tie and send the game to OT, and then score the game winner. The real FAFO here is, the description I gave you for the first goal applies to all three of those goals. Take it X, beat his man to his right, no slide so he takes an extra step to greatness and scores. Michigan, that’s what finding out feels like. In OT Duke went back to it out of a timeout, using a pick for McAdorey this time, and Michigan slid, forced a bad shot, it looked like maybe they had finally made the adjustment. But then yet again, after a Duke stop, McAdorey gets a matchup switch, still on a pole, goes to X, goes right, slide isn’t there, game over. McAdorey was also clearly hobbling a bit in this one, so battling through it gets bonus points
FAFO winner two, Bobby Van Buren from Ohio State
On his way into the stadium at Ohio State, I think BVB swung by the box office, bought a first row ticket, and gave it to McCabe Millon at the start of the game. Because that’s what unfolded. Van Buren made one of the best attackmen in America a spectator. Millon finished the day 0/10 shooting. Millon moved all over the field as a dodger. He tried Bobby from up top, from X, from high and low wings, nothin’ doin’. Two ground balls and a caused turnover to boot, and that CT was a very clean strip of Millon on a dodge coming upfield from X. Bobby gave Millon a shove to put him a bit off balance and just came down clean on his stick with a chop, ball out, thanks very much. After spending most of last year banged up, the North Carolina native is back to making All American attackman into guys who just move the ball along.
SICKO GAME OF THE WEEK
Air Force vs Marist. Air Force has a home double header this weekend, hosting Quinnipiac Friday and then Marist Sunday. Marist is visiting Denver on Friday. So really this is a sicko double header and the second half of it is where the magic happens. Air Force hasn’t won yet, but home games at altitude often provide an advantage against east coast teams. I’m a fan of what I’ve seen from Marist so far this year. I saw them in the fall, they played with an edge, they’ve got some really bright young stars. Dave Scarcello looks like he’s off to a great start as the head coach for the Foxes. Josh Balcarel is a fun player to watch, always in the mix, always scrapping for loose balls. On Sunday Air Force and Marist will both be on the back to back, at altitude, this game could be the best kind of grind.
THE BIG GAMES
#1 vs #2
Maryland takes a shot at the title. The Terps play Notre Dame on a neutral site. The game will be at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the venue Georgia Tech calls home, in Atlanta. The weather on Saturday at 1pm is currently forecasted to be in the 60s and sunny. Top two teams, football stadium, warm and sunny, this game might have Memorial Day vibes.
Maryland lost to Notre Dame twice last year, once in the regular season, and then in the national championship game.
Jake Taylor is an X factor in this game for Notre Dame. He had four goals in the regular season win a year ago against Maryland. The Terps defense has been very good to start the year. Where they have been better than I expected is coverage. The graduation of Ajax Zappitello suggested to me they’d take a step back in winning the top matchup, but Maryland has been successful even against players like Joey Spallina. Taylor tests the team defense as well as anyone. He needs just a few blades of grass to catch and finish, and that’s the case from 10 yards and in. He’s got ten goals this season already. Georgetown shut him out, I wouldn’t be surprised if Maryland studies that film and tries to do the same.
For the Terps, I’ll be watching the defensive midfield closely. The Irish football boys were back last week, as Jordan Faison scored while Matt Jeffery and Tyler Buchner got minutes. They didn’t see a ton of time, and in full candor I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see them get limited time here. Coach Corrigan has said he wants them fresh for April and May, and if you check the calendar, you’ll see it’s neither of those months on Saturday. But if they play, the Notre Dame midfield becomes a matchup nightmare. That depth has been giving opponents fits for years. Faison, Angrick, Busenkell, Finley looks better every week, now Jeffery, McLane, they go so deep they can wear you down from that position without even considering the stacked attack. Jack McDonald’s return for Maryland will make a huge difference, but the shorties will need a big day.
ACC vs Ivy Madness
Penn and Princeton head to Tobacco Road for dates with North Carolina and Duke. Friday night happy hour lacrosse features Penn vs UNC and Princeton vs Duke, then the matchups get reversed on Sunday. Any team that comes out of this thing 2-0 will be ranked in the top five on Monday.
For Penn, I still wonder about the offense. If they’re down one late and need to get the ball to someone with no timeouts, I have no idea who that person is. I am not sure anyone does. Against Delaware, they scored ten goals and it was truly by committee. The goals came from eight players, they had five players take at least four shots. That’s how the Quakers roll. The defense gets their biggest test so far. The best offense they’ve seen to this point is Georgetown, and the Hoyas have not been prodigious scorers. Brendan Lavelle likely gets the Duffy and McAdorey matchups, that’s a tough pair of assignments. Last year, Penn split the weekend, beating Duke on Friday and losing to UNC on Sunday. Lavelle had a monster weekend. He held Duffy to two for ten shooting, and Brennan O’Neill to one for eight. He’s the key to Penn’s success this weekend.
Last year Princeton split the weekend, winning Friday and losing Sunday. If you go back and watch, their legs looked fairly shot on Sunday after a difficult game against Carolina in horrible weather. Princeton is going to want to play a lot faster than they did against Maryland. Carolina might welcome that, Duke might not. It can make preparation difficult. I’ll trust Princeton’s offense every week. Though as noted above, I’d like to see Kabiri be just a bit more patient and take some better shots. After a great opening game against Penn State, I thought Croddick struggled a bit with rebound control and making clean saves against Maryland. The Terps punished him for it, UNC and Duke have the personnel to do the same. Princeton should be playing fast and loose, but in control. It’s a tightrope they’ve walked before.
Carolina is now in the “how will you handle success” phase of things. It didn’t take long for them to get there. But dismantling Michigan and then going into Homewood and coming away with a win can do that. I wouldn’t bet on teams giving Dom Pietramala as much airspace as he had last week any time soon. You can also bet that defenses took note of the fact that Duffy and Pietramala took 31 of UNC’s 40 shots against Hopkins. The game plan against UNC for the foreseeable future should be “find out who else plays offense for them”. Ty English, James Matan, and freshman Caden Harshbarger are nice players. Can Carolina win if Penn can stop Duffy and Petro? We’ll find out this weekend.
Duke has been living dangerously all month. They are 4-0, but their schedule hasn’t exactly been a bear. And that gets compounded by the fact that their games have been close. If Michigan decides to actually slide to Andrew McAdorey in OT, or at the end of regulation, Duke might be 3-1. They escaped against Saint Joseph’s with an 11-9 win. Last year Duke came into this weekend 4-0, with a similar schedule, but much larger margins of victory, and then lost to Penn on Friday night. Will the close games have them better prepared for tougher competition? Or is it a sign that Duke might just be down this year and we haven’t seen them lose yet? One place you’ll be able to trust Duke is the defensive midfield. Jack Gray and Aidan Maguire are the best SSDM duo in America. Championship caliber teams need quality defensive midfielders, and they need depth at the position. Duke has it. It’ll pay dividends against a deep offense like Princeton.
Thanks for reading and rolling with the punches on College Lacrosse Show this week. The podcast will return next week. I’m planning to head up to see Penn State visit Yale, whatever game you go to enjoy it, and bring a friend.